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Statute of Limitations on Debt in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, a creditor has 5 years to sue on a written contract, 3 years on an oral contract or open account, and 6 years on a promissory note.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Oklahoma at a glance

Written contracts
5 years
Oral contracts
3 years
Applies to contracts express or implied not in writing.
Promissory notes
6 years
Runs from the due date, or the accelerated due date, of the note.
Open accounts
3 years
An account not based on a written agreement falls under the 3-year rule for contracts not in writing.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Oklahoma

What is the statute of limitations for a written contract in Oklahoma?

Written contracts in Oklahoma: 5 years.

What is the statute of limitations for an oral contract in Oklahoma?

Oral contracts in Oklahoma: 3 years. Applies to contracts express or implied not in writing.

What is the statute of limitations on a promissory note in Oklahoma?

Promissory notes in Oklahoma: 6 years. Runs from the due date, or the accelerated due date, of the note.

What is the statute of limitations on an open account, such as a credit card, in Oklahoma?

Open accounts in Oklahoma: 3 years. An account not based on a written agreement falls under the 3-year rule for contracts not in writing.

Where do the Oklahoma statutes of limitations on debt come from?

The rules above come from 12 Okla. Stat. 95 and 12A Okla. Stat. 3-118. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

The clock usually starts when the debt is breached, which for a loan or account is often the date of the missed payment or the last payment made. In some states a new payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart or extend the period, so the starting date matters as much as the length.

A statute of limitations is generally a defense the person being sued has to raise. If a lawsuit on an old debt is filed and nobody responds, the court can enter a judgment even if the period had expired. Judgments have their own, separate enforcement periods.

Which state's deadline applies is not always obvious. Contracts may contain a choice of law clause, and some states have borrowing statutes that apply a shorter period from another state. Federal rules also bar debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue on time-barred consumer debt. For a specific dispute, check the statute and consider talking to an attorney.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.